[Allsports#1]

Former assistant returns as head coach

Aaron Snyder The Daily Independent Tue Jan 21, 2014,
WESTWOOD — Fairview’s football program is going the way of Ray.

Fred Ray, that is.

The former Eagles assistant coach is returning as the head coach. The hire was made official on Monday.

“It’s always been a goal to be a head football coach,” Ray said. “I’m excited, looking forward to this role at Fairview.”

The 33-year-old developed strong relationships with former and current Fairview players in his four previous years (2009-2012) on the staff.

“He already has a built-in rapport with our kids, our parents, our staff, our school and our community,” said Eric Hale, the acting high school principal and chairman of the hiring committee. Hale said there were 20-plus applicants for the job.

“Fred Ray is the type of man that every school needs involved with their youth,” Hale continued. “He’s a man of integrity and character.”

Ray becomes the second African-American head coach in a major high school sport — football, basketball or baseball — in the northeastern Kentucky area. Former Rowan County football coach ShaDon Brown was the first. Ray is the first African-American to lead a team in a major sport at Fairview.

He will rejoin the school after a full year at River Valley High School in Bidwell, Ohio, where he served as the team’s offensive coordinator this past season.

The Martins Ferry, Ohio, native is an intervention specialist at the school. His teaching position at Fairview has yet to be determined.

The Eagles were on his mind throughout this past season, which ended in acrimony.

“When I took the job at River Valley, I was still thinking about them,” Ray said. “I had a chance to develop a lot of good relationships. The players seem pretty excited about me coming back.”

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association stripped Fairview of 18 total wins and its state finals appearance because the football team played an academically ineligible player in those games. The Eagles were banned from the 2013 postseason, hit with a $5,000 fine and were placed on probation through 2017. The probation means that the program will simply be under extremely close watch by the KHSAA, and any violation would result in a severe penalty.

Nathan McPeek resigned as head coach after six seasons at the helm.

Ray said he wasn’t hesitant to throw his name in the hat after the sanctions. He was, however, patient.

“I didn’t immediately apply, just because I wanted to kind of see where everything was heading,” Ray said. “In the end, it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Ray said the first items on the checklist include meeting with the team and assembling a top-notch staff, which may include current assistants.

“I want to meet with the guys and let them know who I am personally,” Ray said. “It’s been just a few years since I was playing ball myself, so it’ll be fun to pick their brain on what they like and don’t like.”

Ray was the starting quarterback at Ohio University, from where he graduated in 2004. As a senior, he tallied more than 1,000 yards of offense despite missing four games and the large part of two others. He racked up 1,067 yards of offense as a Bobcat junior.

Ray also played for the Ohio Valley Greyhounds of the United Indoor Football Association before helping coach the Huntington Hammer of the Ultimate Indoor Football League.

“He’ll do things the right way, he demands respect, he’s a high-energy guy,” Hale listed positive attributes. “He’s a great influence and he’ll bring an exciting display of football to the field.

“I’ve never heard a negative word about the man,” added Hale, who coached alongside Ray for three seasons.

Ray recently quoted Tony Dungy, a former successful NFL head coach and current NBC analyst, on his Twitter page: “Dare to be uncommon.”

Fairview hopes for uncommon results both on and off the field from Ray.

Said Hale: “Coach Ray wants success on the field but, more than that, he wants to help mold young men into good men. That’s what we want here at Fairview.”